UPDATE Sunday night from Mercer President William Underwood:
Most of our students who were presented the option to continue with in-person classes or transition to online classes are choosing to complete their courses in a virtual format. We have also determined, based on advice issued by the Student and Exchange Visitors Program (SEVP), that steps are now available to protect the immigration status of our international students while moving their courses to virtual formats. Given the relatively small number of students who are electing to attend classes in person, our ability to protect the immigration status of international students, and our belief that we can address any remaining obstacles to our students on a case-by-case basis, we are now implementing the following changes:
Effective immediately, all classes are suspended until March 23 to provide an opportunity for our faculty to complete the process of transitioning to virtual formats.
- Beginning March 23, all instruction will be delivered online until April 3.
- On or before April 3 we will make a decision about extending virtual formats until the end of the spring term.
- Effective immediately, all classes are suspended until March 23 to provide an opportunity for our faculty to complete the process of transitioning to virtual formats.
- Beginning March 23, all instruction will be delivered online until April 3.
- On or before April 3 we will make a decision about extending virtual formats until the end of the spring term.
Original story:
Mercer University announced a middle path today in its coronavirus response, leaving it to students to decide whether to attend classes on the Macon campus or take online alternatives.
The university cites the assessment of health officials that the current level of health risk to the campus remains low and the absence of any confirmed cases in Macon and the surrounding counties.
Larry Brumley, chief of staff for Mercer President William D. Underwood, said parents and students pleaded with the university not to cancel classes.
Students have design projects that represent four years of work and they wanted to finish them, said Brumley.
“We have to balance that with the wellness and safety of our students, and it has been a difficult balance to wrestle with,” he said. “The president wrestled with this over the last two days and this is where he came down: If you want to stay here, we are going to take care of you. If you want to go home, we understand that and we will make that possible. Look, there are no good options in this. But we are here for students either way.”
Brumley said some Mercer students receive better health care at Mercer, which has a school of medicine with two of the leading infectious disease experts in the Southeast, than they do at home.
The University System of Georgia, the Atlanta University Center, Emory, Agnes Scott, and Brenau have all announced suspension of on-ground classes in favor of digital courses.
Mercer students have the option of remaining on campus and continuing in-person classes, or returning home and doing virtual coursework. Online delivery of classes begins on March 23. Undergraduates opting to return home can “do so at their convenience.”
No on-campus classes are being canceled and dorms, food service, recreational facilities, the Student Health Center, and other services on the Macon campus will remain open.
Mercer plans to continue to monitor and assess the coronavirus risk.
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